14 
COMPARISON OE THE CORN CROPS OF THE NORTHWESTERN STATES FOR 1874 AND 1875. 
Illinois .... 
Indiana.... 
Kentucky 
Missouri.. 
Nebraska. 
Kansas.... 
Iowa. 
1874. 
1 
1875. 
1 
Loss. 
113,579,000 
74,624,000 
48,514,000 
46,049,000 
3,500,000 
16,065,000 
115,720,000 
280,000,000 
95,000,000 
60,200,000 
128,000,000 
28,000,000 
76,700,000 
160,000,500 
146,421,000 
20,376,000 
11 , 686,000 
81,951,000 
24,500,000 
60,635,000 1 
44,280,000 
1 
Loss per cent. 
.52 
.21 
.19 
.64 
.87 
.80 
.28 
As Kentucky and Indiana suffered nearly or quite to the same ex¬ 
tent by drouth as the other States mentioned, but were not troubled 
to an unusual extent by insects, we may take their loss as fairly rep¬ 
resenting the per cent, of loss by drouth ; these give an average of 
twenty per cent. Deducting this from the loss per cent, in the other 
States, we have the following as the actual loss occasioned by insects: 
Illinois.... 32 per cent—or, 89,000,000 bushels. 
Missouri. 44 “ “ 56,320,000 
Nebraska. 67 “ “ 18,760,000 
Kansas. 60 “ “ 46,020,000 
Iowa . 8 “ “ 12,800.000 
Total loss in these States by insects. 223,500,000 ‘ ‘ 
Which at 30 cents per bushel amounts to $67,050,000 as the loss on 
a single corn crop in these States. 
As will be seen elsewhere in this report the per cent, of loss on 
corn in Illinois in 1874, as ascertained by this method, corresponds 
almost exactly with another estimate made on a wholly different basis. 
In arranging the cabinets of specimens, the catalogue of Mr. Crotch 
has been used for the Coleoptera , or Beetles, the works of Mr. Edwards 
for the butterflies, and those of Mr. Grote for the Noctuidae. 
On behalf of myself and assistants I take pleasure in acknowledging 
our indebtedness to the following persons for aid received from them 
in the way of specimens, information, etc,: Prof. Forbes, Prof. Riley, 
Mr. J. Duncan Putnam, and to the various officers a*nd members of the 
State. Agricultural and Horticultural Societies, the editors of the 
Prairie Farmer, and agricultural editor of the Inter Ocean, and various 
other persons. 
I am also under obligations to Mr. Fisher, Secretary of the State 
Board of Agriculture, for the use of books and other favors, to the Sec¬ 
retaries of the State Horticultural Societies of Illinois, Kansas and In¬ 
diana, for the proceedings of their respective societies, and to the vari¬ 
ous railroads of our state for passes. 
As heretofore, I have everywhere found those interested in agricul¬ 
ture, horticulture, education and science, ready and willing to co-oper¬ 
ate heartily in this important work. In fact there is a rapidly in¬ 
creasing desire in our State to obtain information in reference to the 
science of entomology. 
I cannot close without expressing my thanks to His Excellency the 
Governor, the other State officers and yourself, for the many favors re¬ 
ceived from them and you. 
I trust this report may prove acceptable to the board of which you 
are President, and useful to the farmers and horticulturists of Illinois, 
for whose benefit it has been prepared. 
I remain yours, very respectfully, 
CYRUS THOMAS, State Entomologist . 
